Vancouver Canucks 2, Roberto Luongo 0; Tom Lynn, the DVD: Extras
Posted on November 9th, 2008 – 12:27 AMBy Michael Russo
Roberto Luongo’s first-ever shutout with the Florida Panthers way back when came against Minnesota during a 0-0 shutout at the X. I know, I was there, only in a different capacity documenting the life and times of Bobby Lou, as Wild radio personality Kevin Falness calls him.
Yet, his save percentage against the Wild heading into tonight’s game was a personal low .892, which just shows you how much lack of success he’s had against Minnesota since.
Well, Luongo’s in one of those zones the entire NHL should be afraid of, pitching his third straight shutout tonight with 29 saves to knock off the Wild.
The Canucks overtook the Wild for the top spot in the Northwest Division with 18 points. The Wild had been first in the division since Oct. 14, or Game 2 of the season.
Ironically, I thought the Wild played its best game of the road trip tonight, but the Canucks were terrific in their own zone, giving the Wild little space, and then when the Wild broke free, Luongo was outstanding.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard was especially robbed — twice.
Jacques Lemaire was happy with his team’s performance other than it couldn’t score. Nik Backstrom was up to the task as well. His only blemish was Sami Salo’s one-timer through Steve Bernier’s screen. The breakaway goal by Daniel Sedin with 2:40 left didn’t matter. Wild wasn’t scoring tonight.
Lemaire had a couple funny lines, his best being a shot at the Vancouver media. Lemaire thinks of the Vancouver media with about as high a regard as Alex Burrows thinks of Bouchard (if it makes you feel better, I like you fellas).
“You notice there in the third, they’ve got five guys at their blue line and [their media’s] talking about our trap?” Lemaire said. “That’s a new trap.”
The Canucks media often interrogate Lemaire on the Wild’s style, which Lemaire abhors.
Here’s an interesting stat: Vancouver has been getting lots of points from the back end this season. The Canucks’ defensemen have combined for 36 points, led by Kevin Bieksa’s 11. By comparison, the Wild’s defensemen have scored 17 points (not counting Brent Burns’ one goal as a forward and Tomas Mojzis’ assist as a forward).
That would be the Wild’s brand new offensive blue-line corps, folks.
Interesting quote from Ryan Kesler in Sunday’s Vancouver Province. On the stiff arm up high he received from Mikko Koivu: “That’s about what you expect from a player like that.”
Yeah, Koivu’s a real dirty player, like that one time when he got his leg broken from a slash by Mattias Ohlund.
As a supplement to my Sunday column, I also wanted to throw in some more quotes from assistant GM Tom Lynn on the injury policy. Unfortunately, space was tight, so this didn’t get in.
Two key things he noted. The policy is to protect the Wild players, he says.
He wouldn’t divulge his sources or the circumstances, but Lynn said he knows of two specific instances “where we’ve heard from players on the other team after a game that they knew about an injury to one of our players and their coach brought it up in their pregame. They said so and so had a wrist injury and someone else had a leg injury. So has it happened? Yes.
“If we come out and say [Pierre-Marc] Bouchard had back spasms for four or five days, it’s not like somebody’s going to spear him in the back. But sometimes coaches do say, ‘Make sure you play this guy physically.’”
Lynn also said the Wild can’t pick and choose what injuries they divulge. That’s why he won’t just come out and say what Marian Gaborik’s injury is or even Brent Burns.
“There are some injuries I can tell you about,” he said. “But if we say groin for Joe Smith and the next guy we say lower body, well then it must be a worse injury because they told us about Joe Smith’s groin. Like [Brent] Burns is an injury normally I’d tell you about, but we’re not for consistency sake.”
Ok, that’s it from here. I am finally flying home tomorrow from this road trip that seems like a month. If you consider it really started the day before the Dallas game, it’s been a long trek. I am spent.
Night.
127 Responses to "Vancouver Canucks 2, Roberto Luongo 0; Tom Lynn, the DVD: Extras"
I think there’s something wrong with your title Russo. 
Jacques was happy with that? Really?
The 1st period was terrible, the 2nd period was mediocre, the 3rd period was good but they didn’t shoot, they just cycled.
This team couldn’t hit the net if it was a broomball net. I don’t know how pro hockey players can consistently be so inaccurate, but something needs to change.
Another problem is when Marian and the world’s weakest groin aren’t playing, the Wild have no goal scorers. Something needs to change there too.
One other thing needs to change. It’s bad enough that Weller and Boogaard played instead of Kolanos, especially when the Wild are so void of goals, but when a guy with no offensive skill spends more time on the powerplay than Koivu, we have a giant problem.
Was it the best game of the roadtrip? I don’t think so myself. I think the first 2 periods in San Jose were better then anything in this game.
It was a good roadtrip. They won 2 of 4, but they were lucky in Colorado, Backstrom was unstoppable. First and foremost, this team needs scorers.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
You’re the best! The coverage of the non-suspension of DT & the NHL injury reports are terrific. Go figure, I clicked on AD’s Av’s blog and AD has “Russo’s Rants” as the lead item. As the short one-named purple one would say “Baby, I’m a Star”. That’s you. Thanks for the plethora of information.
Is Tommy Lynn really that big of a jackass?
Sunday morning jottings with Mister Know it all.
I was impressed with Craig Weller and the Boogyman. They played the way they needed to play against teams like Vancouver. Those two are an important key for the Wild this year
Colton Gillies acually shown me why the Wild feel he is ready to play for the squad this year. He did not score but he is coming close and he was physical
Cal Clutternuck showed why he cant go anywhere but on the Wild, and not Houston. Certainly he has to much value to be sent to he minors
Eric Reitz showed his value against a team like Vancouver. He would appear to be going no where
I cant answer this at the moment…. WHAT DO THE WILD DO WHEN EVERYONE IS HEALTHY ?? This is going to be a problem that will likely lead to a trade
Dan is right: The Wild need 1 sniper to play whom can get them on the board along with Burnsie back. The roster last night + Gaby or replacement and Burnsie is a roster that can contend for the cup
I think Pouliot CAN be that Sniper we need, but only if he plays with another skill player. I don’t think he gets a good enough chance tos core when’s he’s paired with Weller AND Boogaard. One of them is ok but not both
To answer NiNY: Yes, Tom Lynn is as you speak. Because his boss (DR) is, also. The unbelieveable arrogance of the upper management of this club astounds me at times. If this group ran the Vikings, Twins or Wolves, they would have been pilloried long ago. The fact that this team has won with some semblance of regularity has given them a free pass.
In the article, Tom Lynn talks about what ‘our stakeholders’ want. Tom: In case you haven’t figured it out yet, EVERY FAN is indeed a stakeholder.
Every person on the street (that you see from the tinted windows of your limo) that is wearing any Wild apparel, that watches on TV, that listens on the radio, that buys any tickets (and not just club seats and suites, unlike your inferrence to the contrary)…EVERY FAN is a stakeholder!
The arrogance in which this comment was offered to Michael was beyond comprehension. If the Wild really cared about the ticket-buying ’stakeholders’, not only would you be honest with us about injury reporting, but you would also end the Gaborik stalemate, replace Dumb & Dumber with a better quality TV announcing team, install cup holders on the 200-level, get rid of ‘Nordy’ the unwanted mascot once and for all, and start acting like you really care about us…not just our wallets.
(’nuff said…)
WRT: +1. whole post.
“Or, perhaps Lynn’s right. Maybe the paying customers really don’t care. Maybe it’s only fantasy players who do.
If that’s the case, I wish you’d stop e-mailing me for Gaborik and Brent Burns updates and calling every radio show I do to complain about the policy.”
Gold. Well played, Don Russo!
No need to pile on. WRT has the ‘fan’ perspective nailed.
I guess that is why my fan survey (which clearly states 200 Level) is always marked ‘Return to Sender’.
Ok, I need to get more caffeine…when I reference Elvis, it’s time for me to leave the building… 
10 days till my birthday! What’s everybody getting me?
I have to admit I fell asleep during the second last night only to wake up to Darby talking about the game. Doesn’t sound like I missed overly much by falling asleep.
Does anyone know where Foster is at on his recovery?
wow…i’ll take the upper mgmt and coaching staff of the wild EVERY day…every day…over the vikings and wolves. ’nuff said.
I can’t be called a Smug and Lynn fan at all, but I have no problem with the injury reporting. It is fact in any competitive sport that if you have knowledge of an injury, you exploit it and go after it. Ever watch a boxing match? The minute a guy gets cut, that’s where they start pounding away. If you know a guys got a bad wrist, that is where you hack him. If his left knee is bothering him, that is where you start working him with the stick. If its a shoulder, drill him into the boards and if its a groin…..well go back to the Jules Winnfield school on how to control the crease when you are a goalie. Yes, all of that stuff happens in the course of a game anyway, but if you know a guy is hurt, everybody targets him and it is effective. The fans do have a right to know if the guy is injured and if/when he will play, but what difference does it make if the fan knows the specific injury. If the teams are required to provide full disclosure, they just start gaming the system anyway and provide fudged injury reports.
Bandgeek: For your birthday dinner, just one word: Zantigo!
BG- what do you WANT for your birthday? Russoville is open to your suggestions.
Do we all need to recognize that it has come to this or is there still hope a deal can be done before the deadline?
Many in the league think Minnesota will be forced to hold on to RW Marian Gaborik for a while. He has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury and his value is slipping faster than the stock market’s. “They’ll just have to wait for their highest bidder at the trade deadline like Atlanta did with Marian Hossa last year,” said a league executive
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/11/09/7353516-sun.html
I think if a team and Gaby can get together on an extension there is still hope but it could just be wishful thinking.
it’s really more the arrogance with which they parcel out these morsels of enlightenment to us peons that bothers me personally, stoned.
The whole thing about “we’ve heard at least twice…” well no kidding you tool! You don’t think they’re A) going to find out that someone’s hurt and B) having found it out, make sure everyone on the team knows about it? Please. The whole thing about the suite and club level types being the REAL fans is just a stupid thing to say. Even though I can’t imagine that’s what he was trying to say (no one’s THAT dumb, right??) to even allow yourself to be quoted in such a way that that’s a reasonable inference is ridiculous.
What was Gorg thinking when he interviewed that punk, Burrows between periods last night. The guy sounds like he left school after 3rd grade to become a half a$$ed hockey player (Burrows not Gorg; we all know Gorg made it through high school and college). Why he is considered a good interview is beyond me especially after his remarks about PMB. I vote we stick Gorg in net during the post game analysis and let Darby take another slap shot at him. That shook him up last time!
NiNY:
I think that Lynn really is THAT dumb. Almost every time I read a quote from him, I think A)This guy has an Ivy League education? B)jThe Wild would be best served keeping him away from the media.
SGS,
Nice link. I noticed at the bottom of the article they suggest that if the Ducks can’t bring up Bobby Ryan they might consider dealing him. That’s one prospect I would LOVE to get on this roster. Big kid with soft hands. Ms.C said he looks like a man amongst boys in the AHL. Too bad we don’t have the assets to get him…
for the record: that’s the same guy we got all exercised at last year for the Demo rumors.
but the note about Lehtonen is intriguing.
At $3M that’s a good sized amount of cap hit to take off your books if you’re interested in trading for a big name forward - say, one with all-universe wheels but all-morgue groins - with a hefty salary? Then maybe you have your #1 Finnish goalie mentor your new #2 Finnish goalie - who is young enough to take Hards’ place as goalie of the future but is probably a couple years away and so could use some tutelage from Mason and his countryman.6
Gaby and Hards for Lehtonen and something?? The problem is that, other than Ilya - and I really don’t want to re-open that particular topic - the Thrashers don’t really have anything I’d be too excited about.
They have plenty of empty seats. Will that help?
I just realized that, after a new deal for Backs you’re looking at a minimum of $7M for your two goalies. that’s a lot of do-re-mi. Maybe Lehtonen doesn’t work.
NiNY, he doesn’t. Can’t afford Lehtonen when we sign Backs–which better be soon. Gaby is our albatross–can’t live with him, can’t live without him. We clearly need another scorer–Gaby is one–but he won’t sign and he is fragile anyway. But, can’t really trade him for much at the moment because he has been injured all season with a lower body injury. Sigh.
wood: I wonder if Lehtonen is willing to negotiate a new deal (he’s a RFA after this season) at the same price ($3M per)? Afterall, he’s not exactly been setting the world on fire between the pipes for Atlanta. I’d think that, coming to a new team, and one that tends to focus on defense as much as ours, with a solid contingent of Finnish players to make me comfortable and knowing I’m only looking at 30 games for at least the first season, I might be willing to sign for a team-friendly cap number…
/wishful thinking
agreed it’s time to sign Backs now regardless of the Gaby situation. Every game Nik plays (and plays well) means his price goes up, right?
Nick,
No need to worry. Risebrough has no problem letting players play in the final year of their contracts. He just gets them to sign a new deal days before free agency. Oh and Backstrom should take a discount because this is the place to be. Did I get everything?
that about sums it up, Lucky.
Maybe Lehtonen would, altho is he that good? Do we really want him.. I think the jury is out on that. But, we clearly need more scoring and we do need Burns and Nolan back.
the talk is the Lightning ownership group is already having financial issues.
What, “Saw 3″ isn’t kicking ass at the box office?
Maybe the paying customers really don’t care. Maybe it’s only fantasy players who do.
Well, I am a fantasy player (that’s what got me here), but even from a real standpoint I’m more interested in how long a player will be out than exactly what he’s hurt with. It’s sorta annoying they say lower body or upper body, but I don’t think it’s all that important. What am I going to do if I know what it is? Make a reverse voodoo doll and heal the appropriate area? Would be nice to know I guess but I’m not filing protests over it.
Yeah, Lucky, I hadn’t considered getting him for ourselves, but I’d be VERY happy to get a kid like that and he’d play with the Wild immediately, I believe. With the double bonus of making the Chops a pretty bad team. His presence on the ice reminded me of Ryan Jones, but more skilled, less grinder. But that kind of beefy, down low guy, with great hands and vision. Nom nom nom.
I believe DR and JL wanted to go after Malone last summer but obviously they would not have paid what Malone got post the rights trade to
Mis-type - rest of post:
.. TB. What would TB have to do to get the Wild to take Malone - $6 million in actual money this year - off their hands?
I really think he could be that good, wood. #2 overall pick, Finnish (those guys are all over the goalie scene right now), came up through the Chicago system…and I think he’d benefit in a system like ours.
That said, and even if you’re trading Gaby’s $7.5 for his $3, I’m not sure he’s affordable within the context of the rest of this roster.
Six Goalie System says:
November 9th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I believe DR and JL wanted to go after Malone last summer but obviously they would not have paid what Malone got post the rights trade to
Malone isn’t a scorer. He’s just a big body in front of the net that once in a while slams home a rebound. Could the Wild use him? of course, but he wouldn’t make the difference the Wild need. The Wild are three 25+ goal scorers away from being a force.
Lehtonen would be a great get. Don’t look at his stats in Atlanta, it’s a piss poor way to judge him. Kari has one of the absolute worst defense in front of him in Atlanta. He faces so many shots a night it’s no surprise that he lets up 3-4 goals a game. Considering Harding will never be a #1 goalie, and Gaborik is out the door at the end of the year. Gaborik and Harding for Lehtonen and a pick would be just fine for me. It would free up a lot of cap space for the Wild to make other deals at the deadline, and the Thrashers have more then enough cap space (a little over 9M. Their hit would be 4M. Wild would be up to 5.3M to play with at the deadline) to take the hit.
Nick in New York says:
November 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
That said, and even if you’re trading Gaby’s $7.5 for his $3, I’m not sure he’s affordable within the context of the rest of this roster.
Gaborik’s cap hit is actually 6.333M. Cap hit is the average of your contract, not the salary you are making that year. It’s how Philly could give Briere 10M last year. His actual cap hit was only 6.5M
I am one who really don’t care about injury information. They are injured. I’d like to know if it requires hospitalization. If its not, I am okay with it.
I like to know if they are practicing or at least working out. That gives me more information than Lynn saying its day-to-day or out for 2 weeks. Russo and Shipley have been providing that information. That’s good enough for me.
The Wild mgmt has been so wrong as to when a player will come back that I would rather not know because it gets me more angry when they don’t met those expectations.
good point sunshine. I remember being frustrated with the Wild docs when Mikko was out so much longer than they initially said he would be. Not only because it meant we were without him for longer, but because it seemed like the league based Ohlund’s suspension on those same docs’ guesses on the extent of his injury - so if they’d been right MO might have gotten more games (key word: might.)
I love how you Wild fans always complain about people like Burrows and Cooke, when you’ve got Koivu, who is just as dirty. Like yesterday when he high-sticked Ryan Kesler and got away with it. In the Vancouver media yesterday Kesler said about Koivu “that’s what you expect from a player like that”.
And last year Koivu provoked Ohlund too. You guys on this website are a bit more polite, but the Wild website has so many whiners, not seeing that Koivu and Boogard are just as bad and dirty especially Koivu.
Burrows and Cooke? Oh man, take off the Orca-tinted glasses.
There’s so much ignorance in that post it’s not even funny. Koivu provoked Ohlund into breaking his leg. That’s rich.
And you never, ever go to a team’s actual website if you don’t want to see homers for that team. Hockey Fan 101.
Y’all may be right about Lehtonen. Haven’t seen enough of him to know. But we have greater needs than a backup goalie.
But you guys always play the victim.
I’ll stand up and say right now that Cooke sometimes played dirty.
But none of you will ever stand up and admit that Koivu plays dirty sometimes.
Give us a scorer before getting us a backup goalie.
High-sticking is what makes a player dirty? Most high-sticking are just inadvertent but careless actions. Deliberating elbowing someone, going down for the knees, or boarding are dirty plays. Let’s get to real dirty acts and not focus on high-sticking that sometimes referees see or do not see.
I didn’t see Koivu high-stick Kesler on that play late in the game. He gave him a push/punch up high and I thought initially he might’ve gotten the stick up but a different angle showed that not to be the case.
And I’m not a Wild fan.
WKRP in Cincinnati - get out of Johnny Fever’s stash - if you think Mikko deserved the broken leg for what was a 2 minute minor there should be a lot more broken legs in the NHL.
WKRP-
Not sure what your intent is on ripping Koivu. If it is just to get a bunch of angry reactions I completely respect that. 
If you really believe that Koivu is a dirty player I would suggest that you need to watch him play more or brush up on your hockey knowledge. Koivu is a fantastic hockey player. Immensely talented and hard nosed….he’s the real deal.
I didn’t say he deserved a broken leg. Even Ohlund felt bad for what happened.
All I’m saying is that what Koivu did before that become totally lost in the story as you guys played the typical Wild victim card and acted like as if from out of nowhere, Ohlund flew into a rage and deliberately set out to break his leg for no reason. Ohlund got uncharacteristically angry because of something Koivu did.
I’m just trying to show you the other side and that from a Canucks point of view we see Koivu like you see Burrows.
Ohlund got uncharacteristically angry because of something Koivu did.
A 2 minute minor
I’m just trying to show you the other side and that from a Canucks point of view we see Koivu like you see Burrows
- Mikko - 150 penalty minutes in 216 career games
- Burrows - 359 PIM in 221 games
that from a Canucks point of view we see Koivu like you see Burrows.
I mean, if that’s the case then so be it.
But trying to hang the victim card on another teams fans is going to be tough to defend. Like you guys are some kind of legion of martyrs or something…
But you’re welcome to thank us for the trap which you play so well.
Oh we’re not playing that game are we? Cause then I would have to mention Boogaard your team’s beloved clean-playing hero’s 368 minutes in only 159 games. And that’s with one of the lowest time-on-ice stats in the league.
I already said that Koivu’s stick in the face of Kesler went unpunished, so god knows what else he’s done that’s gone unpunished. Burrows will always get punished for everything because he has a rep with the refs, Koivu doesn’t. Refs always punish the fourth liners more than the top liners and the superstars. Everyone knows that.
And by the way, not than any Wild fan would ever mention it, but Burrows is not just a punk. Burrows led the team in plus/minus last year at a +11, and is already a +7 this year (number 11 in the league, ahead of any Wild player). Burrows also led the Canucks in short-handed goals last season, and is leading the team in short-handed goals this season.
But to you, he’s just a punk with no ability right?
But of course the Wild are ALWAYS the victims, right?
Burrows will always get punished for everything because he has a rep with the refs, Koivu doesn’t. Refs always punish the fourth liners more than the top liners and the superstars. Everyone knows that.
Find/replace “Burrows” with “Boogaard” and you have an equally cogent thought.
But of course the Wild are ALWAYS the victims, right?
From you post it sounds like Burrows is always the victim and in case you didn’t know, Boogie accepts all fights - does Burrows?
dude, seriously drop the victim thing. Or don’t, I don’t really care.
But, since it’s apparently lost on you, let me point out that, by complaining that your misunderstood treasure Burrows is so, well, misunderstood, YOU are playing the same victim card.
You’re blowing yourself up and you don’t even realize it.
(psst…this is the part where you just go away…)
NiNY: Exactamondo.
At least Koivu does not go on ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ — TWICE in two weeks — and brag about what he’s going to do to Ohlund, like Burrows did about Bouchard. Koivu doesn’t have to do anything to anyone. He plays by the rules. Ohlund didn’t, Burrows won’t.
Thank you, I’ll take Koivu over Burrows any day. Any time.
Any time Burrows would like to pontificate further, the Vancouver media will eat it up, I’m sure…more big talk from a small-time player.
OK, I’m going now (for good).
But my last point…..and the only reason I ever even came on here….is that I would really just like to hear a Wild fan say about their own player “oh yeah maybe that was kinda dirty”.
The problem is that you guys get your opinions from Russo.
Russo is one of the most homer-ish biased sports writers I have ever read and you guys are all parroting his thoughts.
Russo’s articles are ALWAYS about how Wild players are suffering from the actions of all the other dirty teams. Every headline he writes is about how much poor Wild players are hated or picked on. I’m not making this up. It’s his favorite subject.
Anyway, I will go now, but I will quietly and without posting check this forum over this hockey season and I would love it if at least 1 Wild fan would EVER EVER at least once admit that Koivu or Boogaard or anyone else is dirty.
STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM CARD, RUSSO-ITES.
Adios
Anyway, I will go now, but I will quietly and without posting check this forum over this hockey season and I would love it if at least 1 Wild fan would EVER EVER at least once admit that Koivu or Boogaard or anyone else is dirty.
…but, they’re not…
Boogie’s next suspension will be his first but Matt Johnson had some issues. Stephane Veilleux has made some questionable plays but nobody would put him the Burrows/Cooke class. Bottom line - most people freaked out here when the Wild got Simon because the organization has fosterd clean play from the get go. For the record, Simon never did anything questionable during his short stint with the Wild.
<>.
See? It’s like talking to a brick wall with you guys and I’m wasting my breath.
I’m sure when I die and go to heaven the only hockey players there will be the saintly Wild players and all 29 other teams players will be in hell.
Take off the rose-tinted glasses, sweetcheeks.
(OK. THAT was my last comment.)
^failed sarcasm class.
I’m sure when I die and go to heaven the only hockey players there will be the saintly Wild players and all 29 other teams players will be in hell.
Actually, that would surprise me.
The majority of Wild players are such pacifists that my guess is they’re all Buddhists so I don’t think Heaven is their final reward…and since they’ve already received enlightenment (playing for Lemaire), I think this is pretty much It for most of these guys.
Buddhists? Where? Lead them to me, for I am their leader!
WKRP- Here you go. Matt Johnson was dirty. Chris Simon was dirty (though he never did anything stupid here). I’ll give you the hit on Stastny by SRV last year was uncalled for.
Boogaard is an enforcer. His job is to play physical. If you can tell me a time he did something dirty, I might listen, but the guy is an honorable heavyweight, and has the respect of the entire league, except out of Vancouver because they have no answer for him.
And Koivu? Come on. Really? You are nit picking, and looking for a dirty player a little too hard if you go after him. This guy is Mr. Clean. Does he take penalties? Yep. Should he gets called if he high sticks some one? Yep. Ever seen him flapping his gums for five minutes at someone? I haven’t.
Attacking Russo? That’s just childish. He’s a reporter. I’ve been watching and playing hockey my entire life, and for the life of me could not tell you one reporter’s name in Vancouver. Russo has the respect of nearly every other hockey writer on staff anywhere.
Burrows is a no body. Be gone in two years. He is a gum flapper and an agitator with little or no skill. The fact that he leads the Nucks is testament only to the fact of how bad your team really is.
And to defend Matt Cooke shows just how drunk on the Orca kool-aid you are. Matt Cooke? That’s low man. Like defending Darcy Tucker or Jarkko Rutuu.
Ohlund was a highly respected player, as far as I can tell, before he broke Koivu’s leg. Now he’s a punch line.
The only time I have ever heard that Wild players are dirty is from Vancouver. I don’t ever see it from CO, EDM, CGY… They think the Wild suck, which is respectable from opposing fans, but dirty, that only comes from Vancouver.
When you are the only fan base out of 30 standing and complaining, I have to stop and ask if maybe your media isn’t leading the charge on that.
The only time I have ever heard that Wild players are dirty is from Vancouver.
Exactly. Everyone else recognizes that the Wild just play hard-nosed, pain-in-the-ass hockey, and Koivu is their leader.
I’ll stand up and say right now that Cooke sometimes played dirty.
Have you heard about the Lindbergh baby?
But to you, he’s just a punk with no ability right?
No, he’s a player with some ability. He chooses to play like a punk. Same for Cooke. Add Darcy Tucker to the list.
Russo is a biased homer fan boy? Really? He picked Colorado to win the playoff series and even explained to the fans his reasoning. He even announced in front of fans at the X while being interviewed that he belived the Avs would take us in 6 games. You wants to see homers then tune in to Terhar and Greenlay(who are paid by the Wild) that’s homerfied. I love Russo’s takes and I think he does a great job of sticking it to the brass if he doesn’t agree with their moves and he tells it like it is with the players on the team.
I need the final score in the CGY / Chi game to be 1-0 with Toews scoring the lone goal. Cool with everyone else?
Good.
I need the final score in the CGY / Chi game to be 1-0 with Toews scoring the lone goal. Cool with everyone else?
Screw you.
(Actually I have too many teams to even know what I need today in my head to head leagues. I need Sharp to do well though for sure. He can assist Toews, k?)
Um, no. Not cool with that, Buddha. Like Kevin, I’m not sure what I need but a Kipper loss is definitely not it and if anyone needs to score for Chi, it’s Sharpie.
I am ok with that but only if Kipper stops 49 shots and then loses.
Crap. I hadn’t even set up my rosters for today. I usually do it through Saturday and then get all stymied by how many choices I have to make about Saturday and stop. Never made it back to set up Sunday. Doh!
Sharp was one of the ones left off the roster, but I really do need the Kipper win.
[…] Lemaire laughs at the Vancouver media for not writing about the joy-killing Canucks’ trap hockey. [Star Tribune]• The Florida Panthers are "a mess" and Coach Peter DeBoer looks "more dejected […]
I don’t have a lot of personal time with tom lynn or DR but I wouldn’t lump the two together. Tom lynn comes off as an arrogant bast*rd. He always looked severely annoyed at having to be at those STH “chalk talks” they used to have. DR, i don’t get that sense. Maybe people around here don’t like him because he doesn’t sign his or her favorite player but i’ve never felt as if he was being overly arrogant.
does tom lynn really ride in a limo?
re cup holders in the 200 level. has anyone gotten a reason why they don’t have them? Perhaps there isn’t enough room to put the ones in like they have in the lower level due to the steepness of the seating?
funny how we made it for decades with out them and now we can’t live without them.
Wow, were you guys really so bored that you argued with a troll from Vancouver? Glad I took the dogs for a long walk and napped, much better use of my time. My birthday list is as follows (since it was asked what I wanted earlier):
-A 1960’s N* Jersey with #1 Worsley on the back (I’d have to share that with the Mr)
-Any of the Sean Connery Bond movies (except Dr No and From Russia, I already have those two)
-A new contract for Backs
-A game worn signed Boogie jersey (Boogie still in it please)
-A chance to follow the Wild on a road trip
-New clothes (the weight loss is going fine for the regulars that care)
-New car
That should be good for now. Anybody attending the game on the 20th? I am!! It’s my present from the Mr.
My birthday list is being moderated…. Is it because I asked for a game worn, signed Boogie jersey (with Boogie still in it)?
yeah. Burrows ain’t dirty:
>>>I’m just trying to show you the other side and that from a Canucks point of view we see Koivu like you see Burrows.<<<
Now you know why they call ‘em canuckleheads. I wonder what they would have to throw in on a trade to get Koivu for Burrows. I mean besides Luongo, Bieksa and the Sisters. We’d still be getting the short end of the deal. Comparing a guy who stands to become a perennial all-star to a squeaky little frog? Fresh.
F..K! Stupid Kipper. Stupid Toews.
i hate Chicago, and I hate Kipper. That’s it. I just hate them. Uselss both him and the whole Chicago team.
Stupid Ms.C… not only did I not have Sharpie on my roster, I left Havlat off.
Toews lives!
I’m about three seconds away from dropping Kipper. Seriously, 5 GA again tonight? What’s with this idiot?
Kipper sucking donkey is he? Thats to bad for you Buddha.
WKRP in Cincinnati :
JL determines the type of player and how he wants that player to play. Now that same player for the Wild might play the way the Canucks play if he was on that team.
Aaron Varos played reckless hockey like the Canucks, and he no longer has a position
Kipper is killing me! He was my first goalie draftee. I just dropped Huet right before tonite’s game. I am an idiot.
6 GA for Kipper. 6.
Toews finally scored, all he had to do was face my highest goalie draft pick…
Stupid Kipper. I’m benching him. Take that Kipper! Hee hee…
I will say that none of our players flop around on the ice trying to draw penalties, i.e. Roberta. Awesome goalie no doubt, but after he acted like a ninny last night my respect for him dropped like an orca turd in the ocean.
Might part with Thomas or Miller for someone really good of yours….or maybe I won’t…mwahahaha.
Yeah Ohlund slashed Koivu and broke his leg…a freakish event at most. There have been a zillion similar slashes in the NHL. You seem to like to forget the flying elbow Koivu threw at Ohlund that prompted the slash.
Welcome CB. The Flying elbow huh? A 2 minute minor penalty. Well worth breaking a guys leg.
And there have not been a zillion similar slashes. Only one that broke a guy’s leg last I checked. I know you will say that’s your point, but your point is ill founded.
A guy throws an elbow at you you drop the gloves and settle it, you do not turn into a child and break his leg.
I don’t belive there have been a zillion similar slashes. Usually, the hockey player does not swing the stick like a baseball bat as the slash at a player’s legs as Ohlund did. Even if they two-hand their stick at another player, it is more a golf swing.
Somebody put a muzzle on Burrows. The more he spouts of in the media, the more casual fans will start to confuse the NHL with the NBA.
Anyone else just feel like Burrows whing about Butch just makes him sound like a five year old?
Burrows: I don’t like him, and I didn’t pass him the puck.
Yeah, that’s a great hockey player there. Doesn’t like a guy, so put the team at a disadvantage to avoid passing the puck to him.
Pinky and the Brain 3 points
No scoring Wild 0 points
Gabby wants out, who wouldn’t?
So I just read Russo’s article re: Demitra. Is Russo writing an article or is he a columnist? He sure is inserting his opinions like a columnist. I can understand it in a blog or a column but not in an article.
Thank you, sunshine!
My point exactly!!!!
Russo has always put his opinions in his articles, always.
(sorry I came back just to say that because I’m so stunned to see someone agree)
Burrows has 10 points so far this year, that is twice as hotdog PMB who only has 5 points. Burrows will get a 3 year $4.5 contract and will be around a long time to check and shadow the Minnesota whiners.
Gabby wants out, who wouldn’t?
Last time I checked, the feeling with the fanbase is largely mutual. Funny how $10 million per isn’t enough to lure Sundin to the all star laden Canucks squad.
Of course Burrows have 5 games played in hand.
WKRP…did someone drop a turkey on your head???
Mikko and Burns > Kessler and Bieksa and its not close.
WKRP:
While you may agree with me that Russo does insert his own commentary into articles, I strongly disagree with you regarding Burrows. He is a cheapshot artist and unwilling to drop the gloves to back up his cheap shots.
To be honest, I was thinking about adding Burrows to my Fantasy Hockey team but I abhor his plays that I chose Hagman over him. I don’t mind Kesler as much but Burrows is a slug.
I only saw one sentence that, were I his editor, I probably would have reworded… the question about wanting Sully and the pick back. The rest didn’t sent off any objectivity alarms for me.
O’Sullivan is mediocre and would be terrible on this team. It was a good trade and would’ve worked well if Lemaire knew how to run a team anymore. Lemaire is lost in the hockey world and needs to retire.
GreenStar: To answer your most recent post, fans on the 200-level have been asking for cup holders since Day One. As long as the concessionaire refuses to put lids on non-alcoholic beverages, something has to be done to alleviate the spillage that some fans do.
C’mon up and sit between Soda Lake and Beer River sometime. And don’t forget about Whiskey Falls, in the row behind you…
DR wasn’t as arrogant as he seems nowadays when the franchise first started. Now it’s, “No comment, no comment, I don’t have anything to say to anybody” whenever any media asks him nearly anything about any player.
And this is to accredited media, whose livelihood is to follow the Wild and report on them every day. These people (i.e., Russo, Shipley at the PP) can see what’s really going on, unlike us ’stakeholders’ who need to go to blogs, etc., to find out about the status of our ’stake’.
And, to the Canucklehead WKRP: If you think you’re getting more ‘objective journalism’ in the Vancouver Sun or in The Province, maybe you should go to their websites and let off your Burrows-laden steam over there…
kj: “Oh, my God, they’re Turkeys!”
To answer your most recent post, fans on the 200-level have been asking for cup holders since Day One.
not really my question. I was wondering if anyone was given a reason why they don’t have them.
Question:
Doesn’t the Wild usually go into a slump about this time of year? 
Goody: well, we’re sort of waiting for the Flames to come back from a 3-goal deficit and tear our hearts out, or Koivu to get his leg broken, or Gaby to destroy his gro…er…lower body…playing hacky sack…but yes, it seems like there’s usually a let down after our hot starts.
Lemaire knew how to run a team anymore
after spending the weekend in the woods, able to ponders the state of the wild, I have to agree with wooger’s kid. DR has got to go too.
if they were gone
-we would not have lost top names like mark parrish and aaron voros.
-top, cup clinching talent, marian hossa, huselius, ryan malone and maybe even Brian Campbell would be in iron range red. Leipold wants to spend the money, DR still things he is working with naegle and is pinching pennies. Spend the money or give me back the raise in ticket prices.
-#10 would be signed long term. He has made it clear he don’t like playing in the suppressive defensive style that is JL trap hockey. who’s more important? #10 or JL? kick JL out the door.
-we’d be 13-0 instead of 8-4-1. Those losses were clearly because of poor coaching. and with the added personally playing firehouse hockey, no way those games are lost.
so, sign me up. I want our dinosaurs out of here. maybe replace with Lucia? He’d open it up, get more minnesota players on the team. at least the team would be something we can be proud of.
Dude, that post should have come with coffee. It’s too early for that stuff on a Monday…
Green*…don’t give up the day job. Your comedy scares me…
MKiA, please stop posting as GreenStar.
To answer the legit GreenStar question: No answer has ever been given about no cup holders on the 200-level…the Wild will not even take discussion on this issue.
No answer has ever been given
interesting. after the wrestling tourney, my cup holder, the kind that is attached to the back of the seat in front of you, was gone. I waited one game for them to fix on their own and when it wasn’t I sent a friendly email to my account rep and it was there the next day.
Maybe it is considered a perk?
I’d guess there is a reasonable explanation but surprised no one has received one.
I thought G* was serious until I read we would not have lost top names like mark parrish and aaron voros. Then I knew he wasn’t.
Cupholders:
My guess is because of the steepness of the upper level, cupholders on the backs of the seats in front of you would need to be so high that the people in those seats would be throwing their jackets over the back of their seat and into your drink. Or have thier hair in your drink, etc. They could go with the ones in the arm rests, but then the seats would be even narrower.
G* why’d you take down the RIAC link? Or was that only for Halloween?
Yes, but it’s not impossible to retrofit the 200-level with cupholders, Goody. There are cupholders out there that would work within the confines of the current seating arrangement. (There are cupholders on the upper level of the Metrodome, the steepest climb in sports).
IMO (and it’s just that), it’s the lack of corporate will on the part of MSE. And the Wild will not acknowledge that this is even a problem. This debate has raged on the team’s message boards for years. No one with MSE will even acknowledge that this exists.
NiNY, the link is there, it depends on what PC i am using at the time.
Greenstar- That is ridiculous- I would like to see whom can do better then DR and JL. Long term is in mind when DR has built the team. DR has done a horrible job with Minnesota talent
color me relieved…
again with the Minnesota talent? New week, same shi…..
What the he!! is Strib IT staff doing now???
2 posts vanished - and I cannot repost either one ‘cuz WordPress says I already posted it.
If I did my job this way…
Let’s try this:
DR has done a horrible job with Minnesota talent
I’ll take (insert favorite psychotropic here) for $500 Alex…
NiNY: Agree with you re: MKiA. He (and his other personalities) just can’t get it thru his collective head that the Wild are looking for the BEST talent, not the best talent in this neighborhood. (Of course, most — not all — of that has been ruined when they sign that Lucia-offered tender.)
Continental Breakfast now being served…
[…] Lemaire took a shot at the Vancouver media following the 2-0 Canuck win. Vancouver reporters have asked him about his […]
Just because Koivu had his leg broken by Ohlund doesn’t mean Koivu is a clean player. What type of correlation is that?
For the record, every single NHL team plays some sort of trap at various times depending on game conditions. It is the degree at which it is used that is now under discussion.
